Parsha Tzav "Command!" ~ April 3 - April 9, 2009

Parsha Tzav "Command!" · Leviticus 6:8–8:36

Haftarah:   Jeremiah 7:21–8:3; 9:23-24

Supplemental Readings:

S	Ezekiel 23–25; Acts 27
M	Ezekiel 26, 27; Acts 28
T	Ezekiel 28–30; Romans 1
W	Ezekiel 31, 32; Romans 2
Th	Ezekiel 33–35; Romans 3

Comments

[John A. Schutz]

Nisan 16
On this day:

- The manna stopped (Joshua 5:11-12)

- Traditionally Sefirat Ha'Omer (begin counting the Omer)

[John A. Schutz]

A message from my old Rabbi concerning the study to ascertain which day of the week Y'shua really died:

Your task of undertaking determining the exact day of the week of Yeshua's death is more demanding than some realized, because it is not only about trying to figure out 3 days and 3 night, but it is also trying to reconcile all the internals associated with the feast of unleavened bread and firstfruits. Also add to it that the Pharisees and Sadducees and Essenes had develop some variation of when the passover was to be killed and what day was the "annual sabbath" and it becomes a real scholarly challenge.
The most important thing is that He Rose!

However here is my 2 cents on your material:

A. Traditional :
Literally this would have
2 evenings(Friday Night & Saturday Night) 1 full day (Saturday) and parts of 2 days (Friday afternoon and a short time at dawn on Sunday).
So a strict counting will get only 2 evenings and 1 day with some change.
However, in Jewish tradition a part of a day is sometimes counted as a full day, so yes you can get 3 days and 3 nights by extrapolation. 1st day Friday (1 evening and 1 day) , 2nd day Saturday ( 2 evening and 2nd day), 3rd Day Sunday (3rd evening and 3rd day). Definitely not 72 hours, but the scriptures do not say 72 hours, so not a problem.

B) Thursday Scenario:
Literally this would produce:
3 evenings( Thursday Night, Friday Night and Saturday night)
2 days ( Friday day, Saturday day ) and part days (thursday afternoon and Sunday dawn).
So a strct counting will get only 3 evenings and 2 days and some change.
However those who argue for this view will note that any addition to the 2 days with 3 evenings will put you into the 3rd day and thus you have him being raised on the 3rd day. Still not 72 hours, but same answer as above.

C)Wednesday Scenario:
Literally this would produce:
4 Evenings (Wednesday Night, Thur Night, Friday Night, Saturday Night)
3 days ( Thur, Friday, Sat) and part days (Wed afternoon and Sunday Dawn).
So a strict counting will get 4 Evening 3 days plus change and it would put him being raised on the 4th day as you have correctly acknowledge.
Those who hold to this view will try to reconcile it by arguing the he was not in the "belly of the whale" until he was put into the tomb and descended into the deepest part of the earth.With this they also add they he must have been raised near right when the Sabbath ended towards sun set on Saturday. Then they argue that you have 3 evenings and 3 days and then they argue that it is the third day because if it was wednesday and you said I would see you in 3 days it would be some time on Saturday.

There are other issues that can speak to these things:
1) What year was Yeshua crucified?
2) What year did Nisan 14 fall that year?
3) Did Yeshua keep the feast according to Pharisees, Sadducees or Essene tradtion (evening of Nisan 14 or 15)?
4) What is meant by preparation day in gospel of John(John 19:31)?
5) What is meant by "high" sabbath in gospel of John (John 19:31)?
6) What sabbath was being emphasized when they said they had to get his body into the tomb because the sabbath was fast approaching?
7) Why does John say that at the sixth hour when Yeshua was before Pilate that it was the "preparation of the passover" when the seder had already taken place?
8)What is meant by the statement (John 18:28) that the priest would not enter into the judgement hall because they did not want to be defiled and therefore not eat the passover?

Have fun researching the questions,
Behold our passover lamb has been slained for us,
Ralph

[John A. Schutz]

Aviv 15
On this day:

- The Israelites entered Egypt (Ex 12:40-41)

- They left Egypt (Ex 12:6-13, 29-31)

- They began eating the produce of the Promised Land (Josh 5:11)

- Yeshua prayed on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:15) then was arrested tried and crucified (Lk 22:47-23:49)

[John A. Schutz]

On Aviv 14:

- Josia restored the celebration of Pesach to Israel (2 Chronicles 35:1)

- Y'shua celebrated Pesach (Lk 22:13-15)

"... they prepared the passover. ... he placed himself at table, and the twelve apostles with him... He said to them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer."

[John A. Schutz]

•You know sometimes even believers can all have good motives and intentions but still disagree.

•This is just information, but have any of you noticed that some of us pray the Sh’ma facing east?

•That’s because there is a mitvah that prayer is to be done while facing in the direction of the Temple. I believe it’s based on God’s answer to Solomon’s prayer. You can look that up on your own later, but I think maybe it would be good during Passover to face the place where Y’shua died for us; and Topol might say “they are right”.

•Anyway the ark is usually placed on, or in the wall facing Jerusalem because some people believe it is disrespectful to the Torah, the Ark and the other congregants to turn away from it during prayers. They would probably say they are we should “never take our eyes off of God’s Word.”

•This in turn is why, when the Ark cannot be placed on, or in the wall facing Jerusalem; others follow the custom to continue to face the Ark. I think Topol might say “they are also right”.

•Now before you make your decision there is a third custom which is to turn your head in the direction of Jerusalem while your body is facing the Ark…

•Now my head won’t turn that far… and unless I’m overruled you can face wherever you want to, just join in with the watchword of Israel the Sh’ma!

[John A. Schutz]

Hi Aaron,
The context seems to be that the people who had returned have been responding to the earlier prophecy and out of obedience rebuilding the Temple.

Then this prophecy comes telling them to "consider their way" and see what/where it has gotten them. The root for the word used translated as "consider" is translated 5 times as "turn" so I'm not positive put I would assume that it would imply that they should consider their ways and turn (to ADONAI - God).

It makes sense to me since in the verse just prior He indicates that they have been under a curse because they have not yet considered and turned to Him. So He says now that this is what they should do...

So, the logical conclusion becomes: when they do this He will bless them.

[John A. Schutz]

Aviv (Nisan) 13
April 6th eve-7th day in 2009

On this day:

Haman's edict was written (Esther 3:12)

Traditionally - This is the day all leaven is removed from the house. (Biblically it should be gone by Wednesday night Exodus 12:19, 13:7, Deuteronomy 16:4)

[Carmen De Roma]

Now that we are covered in
the blood of the atonement
we can answer the question
of "Why was I born". To
love and serve the Father and each other. Honor the
Passover where the blood of the spotless lambs foretells the spotless lamb to come.

[Aaron Jones]

The prophet Haggai (or God though Haggai) references Lev 7 to quiz the priests. "...so if holy meat touches oil or stew ...do those things become holy?... They respond "No"!
I don't know if I get God's response. It seems that he says, "yep your right!.. that would make you unclean! Correct answer... and in the same way all the people are unclean." But then he goes on to talk about their curse of non-prosperity to be ending. Blessings seem to be on the horizon.

Is this because they are working on the temple? I feel like I am missing something significant here?

[John A. Schutz]

Events of Aviv (Nisan) 11
(this year Sunday night through Monday; April 4-5 2009)

Y'shua and his talmidim left Jeurusalem in the evening. Mark 11:19

In the morning they noticed the cursed fig tree had withered. Mark 11:20

Teshua returned to Jerusalem and his authority was questioned.
Mark 11:27-33

Yeshua taught at the Temple. Mark 12-13

Yeshua taught in parables and rebuked the religious leaders. Matt 21:28-24:5

Yeshua predicted that in two days he would be handed over to be crucified. Matt 26:1-2

Yehudah of Keriot conspired with religious leaders to betray him. Matt 26:14-16

[John A. Schutz]

Leviticus 8
A sacrifice was made to atone for the priests, and the blood of atonement was put on their right ears, right hands and right feet, so that they could hear from God, so they could go where He sends them and obey God in what they do with their hands.

Now we are members of a priesthood, and we are covered with the atoning blood of the final and most precious sacrifice. Why? So that you can hear from God. You can go where He sends you. And YOU can work for Him.